ST MARY’S EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL, PALMERSTON PLACE
Has a loved one died from HIV-related causes?
As we approach World AIDS Day, anyone is welcome to come to one of our drop-in quilting workshops to add a friend or family member’s name to the HIV quilt, housed in the Cathedral.
Free. All are welcome on a drop-in basis, no need to book.
More info: https://tinyurl.com/2j947me9
Yesterday (December 1) marked World AIDS Day, which has been recognised and celebrated by all United Nations (UN) Member states since its inauguration in 1988.
The day also constitutes an official global public health campaign as designated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
On World Aids Day Council Leader Cammy Day, along with Grant Sugden, CEO of Waverley Care, signed the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities Ending the HIV Epidemic on behalf of the city of Edinburgh.
This puts Edinburgh alongside almost 500 other cities around the world who have signed up to the Declaration and are committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.3 of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
Council Leader Cammy Day also took a rapid HIV test in his office, administered by Waverley Care, in order to raise awareness, encourage regular testing and keep the conversation going about HIV and sexual health more broadly.
Here in Edinburgh, NHS Lothian offer detailed advice on getting tested and the range of support that is available.
Our other partners Waverley Care and CREW 2000 also offer a wide array of support services in the city; including drop ins, advice, C:card (free condom/sexual health supplies), counselling and more.
SX (part of Waverley Care) offered confidential HIV testing in the city centre yesterday. From 9am-5pm they were be in Waverley Market and from 5-7pm at CREW 2000 on Cockburn Street.
Waverly Care also have further information on World AIDS Day in Edinburgh including fundraising, events and partnerships.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I was delighted to sign Edinburgh up to the Fast-Track Cities initiative alongside Grant Sugden of Waverley Care. This represents our city’s commitment to reducing and eventually eradicating HIV and the stigma associated with it.
“I’d encourage everyone to get tested regularly and have open and honest conversations with their friends, families, and peers about HIV.
“I would like to pay tribute to Waverley Care, Crew 2000, NHS Lothian and all our other partners for the fantastic and essential work that they are carrying out in the Capital.”
Grant Sugden, CEO of Waverly Care, said: “I am delighted that Edinburgh has committed to becoming a Fast-Track City. This is a vital step towards reaching a Scotland with zero new HIV transmissions by 2030.
“Waverley Care is incredibly pleased to be leading on Fast-Track Cities in Scotland. We are joining up Scotland’s cities to work together to reach shared goals for HIV transmission elimination, and Edinburgh has an important part to play in this.
“Edinburgh was once known as the ‘AIDS capital of Europe’, and while we have come incredibly far, more work must be done on areas such as such as HIV stigma and increasing access to testing.
“We hope Edinburgh’s commitment will accelerate progress to reach HIV targets and eliminate HIV transmission by 2030.”
Emma Crawshaw, CEO of Crew 2000, said: “World AIDS day helps us highlight that we can all play a part in working together to end the shame and stigma attached to AIDS/HIV: we know this can be one of the biggest barriers to people accessing prevention, protection, testing support and treatment.
“Having no detectable virus in your blood due to effective HIV treatment means that the virus can’t be passed on. Scotland is on its way to becoming one of the first countries in the world to achieve zero HIV transmissions by 2030.
“We support Councillor Day’s motion to commit to the Fast Track Cities Initiative, ending HIV-related stigma and new HIV transmissions, and to sign the Paris Declaration committing to coordinated sharing experience and taking action across and between health boards to achieve this goal.”
Dona Milne, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian, said: “NHS Lothian is committed to stamping out the stigma associated with HIV and Hepatitis C, and we are fully supportive of the Paris Declaration.
“As Edinburgh officially makes a commitment to become a Fast Track City on World Aids Day, we hope that this initiative will make Lothian, and indeed Scotland a kinder place for people living with HIV and hepatitis C, while also encouraging Scotland to be more open about sexual health.”
José M. Zuniga, President and CEO, of International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), said: “As Edinburgh signs up to the Fast-Track Cities network this World AIDS Day 2022, we commit to work shoulder-to-shoulder with you to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 and other related targets.
“We also applaud the city’s commitment to place people at the centre of the HIV response, including by prioritizing the goal of getting to zero HIV-related stigma and discrimination.”
People at risk of contracting HIV will find it easier to get pills to prevent infection as the world’s first online clinic is set to be developed next year.
The pilot could make it possible for participants to order medication to prevent HIV from the comfort of their own homes.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) – the tablets used to prevent HIV – has saved thousands of lives across the world since it was introduced to Scotland in 2017. Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to introduce this service which offers free preventative medication to those deemed at highest risk of acquiring HIV.
This online clinic, which the Scottish Government has allocated £200,000 to develop, will mean people can test at home and manage their medication without needing to attend a specialist clinic – freeing up more time for complex cases and easing pressure on the NHS.
Over 6,500 people have had PrEP prescribed at least once, and there has been significant reduction in new diagnoses of HIV among gay and bi-sexual men in the four years since it was launched.
The move forms part of the Scottish Government’s HIV Transmission Elimination Proposal, which sets a clear path to stop the spread by 2030. A marketing campaign will also be launched over the coming months to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Today, on World AIDS Day, we are taking another bold step to stop the spread of HIV in Scotland.
“Forty-years ago, an HIV diagnosis was a death sentence – today people with the virus are able to live long, happy and healthy lives thanks to effective treatment.
“Our commitment to develop an e-PrEP clinic is an important step towards ending stigma and empowering people at risk to take more control over their own healthcare.
“The proposal makes clear there is much work to be done and the marketing campaign will help raise awareness to ending stigma surrounding HIV.”
Professor Rak Nandwani, chair of the HIV Transmission Elimination Oversight Group, said: “Building on progress we’ve already made in Scotland, this is the perfect moment to push towards zero HIV transmissions by 2030.
“Our approach differs from other nations as it considers targets for new infections separately from episodes that have already happened. Ending HIV transmission will save money and will save lives.”
Every year on 1st December people across the globe mark World AIDS Day: the international day to remember the 35 million people who have died worldwide from AIDS-related illnesses, to prevent new cases of HIV and to stand in solidarity with people living with the virus. Continue reading Local MSP pledges support on World Aids Day
World AIDS Day: Monday 1 December 2014
Edinburgh turns red and asks: ‘What Will You Do about HIV’?
On World AIDS Day (Monday 1 December) organisations across Edinburgh are joining the Scotland-wide campaign to ask: ‘What Will You Do’ about HIV – the virus that when left untreated can lead to AIDS.
Fifteen buildings and landmarks across Edinburgh – including St John’s Church, St Andrew’s House, Harvey Nichols, Jenners and the Usher Hall – are turning their lights red to mark 1 December, events are being held across the city and information and leaflets about HIV are being sent to GPs, colleges, businesses and clinics.
The campaign, run by a coalition of charities, campaigners and local health boards, is asking everyone in Scotland – from individuals and businesses through to politicians – to think actively about what they can do to reduce new cases of HIV and to tackle the stigma and prejudice people living with HIV in Scotland still face.
Across this weekend and 1 December itself, the campaign will see:
George Valiotis, CEO of HIV Scotland – the national HIV policy charity for Scotland – said:“It’s fantastic to see people and organisations across Edinburgh and the Lothians supporting World AIDS Day and talking about HIV. Historically as a society we’ve chosen to be either actively terrified of HIV or to ignore it. Neither approach is the answer. As a nation we must use World AIDS Day this year to take a good hard look at where we are in our response to HIV.
“People living with HIV tell us they can still face stigma and prejudice in every area of their lives; and we know that rates of new cases of HIV haven’t reduced significantly across the last 10 years. This simply isn’t good enough, and that’s why our campaign this year is to ask everyone in Scotland – from members of the public, right through to key decision-makers – to stop and think: what will you do about HIV?
“For members of the public, the answer to that question might be simple: visit www.aidsdayscotland.com and learn a few facts about HIV, use condoms, get tested, or help spread the word by tweeting using hashtag #WhatWillYouDo or adding a red ribbon to your social media profile picture.
“Decision-makers can answer the question by making concrete commitments to work together and find new ways to reduce new cases of HIV and to tackle the stigma people living with HIV face. As Scotland’s Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework comes to an end in March, we have to grasp the opportunity right now to build a new, more effective response to HIV.”
Various events are also taking place in the city on and around 1 December to commemorate the day – including a Community Gathering for World AIDS Day at St John’s Church and a sponsored sea-swim in Portobello.
Maureen Watt, Minister for Public Health, said: “World AIDS Day is a chance for Scotland to unite with the world in tackling HIV. It is also a time to remember those who have died, as well as reflect on the progress that has been made over the past 30 years. The Scottish Government continues to work with NHS, third sector and local authority colleagues through the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework to reduce new infections and improve diagnosis, treatment and care for those living with HIV. I hope that the #WhatWillYouDo campaign will make people more aware of HIV and help us work together to ensure that people with HIV live longer healthier lives, free from stigma and discrimination.”
The latest Health Protection Scotland figures show that there are an estimated 4,800 individuals diagnosed and living with HIV in Scotland and that an estimated 24% of those living with HIV haven’t been diagnosed. Evidence suggests that most new HIV cases are a result of transmission from individuals who are unaware of their status – highlighting the need for earlier and more frequent testing.
An average of 356 new cases of HIV have been reported each year for the last four years in Scotland – close to one each day. While many of those diagnosed with HIV are accessing treatment, in 2013, half of those newly diagnosed were already at a late stage of infection – reinforcing the importance of widening access to HIV testing and getting people into treatment and care as early as possible.
Full information about the ‘What Will You Do’ campaign, events and HIV and AIDS are available at www.aidsdayscotland.com. Red ribbons can be added to social media profiles at www.bit.ly/getribbon and campaigners invite everyone in Scotland to tweet using #WhatWillYouDo to show support.
